Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-07
The Decay of Our Maritime
Commerce.

II
Commerce.
Our esteemed evening contemporary
makes pitiful defence Of the policy OF
the Republican party that has resulted
in wipipg the merchant marine OF the
United States from the face Of the ocean.
Whilst we coincide with our neighoor In
the paltriness Of that shift that would
substitute a temporary subsidy to aid
American shipping instead of the perma'
nent encourage ment which would be de-
rived from policy that would place 1t
on an equality with the marine COM
merce of other nation, we must soy that
we are willing to take any step that VIII
lead in the direction OF restoring our
merchant navy to it's old.time greatness.
Under the low tariff Of lS46 the
marine commerce of the United States
attained it's grandest proportions. Its
white winged messengers covered every
sea, aud American clippers were the
envy of every maritime nation for their
symm etry, beauty and speed. Not only
the commerce of our own country, but
the trade of other countries. was carried
on American bottoms. The Repub.
licans cine into power and adopted a
high tariff policy, ana what is the result:
In 1884 the shipping of Great Britain
carried Sc per cent Of the expectations
and imporiations of the United States!
That percentage has been since increased
until now hardly ten per cent. OF the
CONNIE rec of our own country Is carried
in American ships. 1t is hard 10
believe that this is the result
of a false governmental policy with
reference to the tariff, to the inter
nal revenue tax and to the navigation
laws. Yet such is the fact. Ii would
seem as if Republican legislators had
left no means untried that would help
to blot out our merchant marine. The
high tariff confines the market for our
manufactures to the narrow limits OF
our own country, instead of giving them
the whole world as consumers. Hence
the frequent shuttings down to prevent
over-production. An English ship can
carry English man ufactures to other
countries, exchange them for the pro-
ducts of such countries and return to
England with material to supply their
looms and workshops. An American
ship, ii it could afford to carry out
cargo of goods to foreign country, 1t
could not afford to bring back a return
cargo, for the duties on it would make
the venture ruinous. Our evening con-
temporary says that the reason
we have no ships is because they
can be built cheaper in England than
here, and cites the fact that Mr.. Max
well has gone to Liverpool to buy a
vessel because he can purchase it for less
there than in the United States. That
is true. but why are they cheaper there
than here Because the English
policy encourages ship building in every
way. No tax is placed upon the ma
terial which enters into it. But with us
everything is taxed, from the sails to the
shrouds; from the copper to the iron
that enters iuto her machinery and hull.
The brass, the copper, the tacks, the
hemp, the canvas, the iron, the wood
everything is taxed. Hence, vessel
that can be built in England for $780,
600 will cost $3.50 here. The result
of this suicidal policy is apparent in all
American ports. Vessels are loading
ct our wharves and steamers are SAIL
ing away, but not ten in hundred
floats the American flag. Every steamer
that sails for Europe, excepting starv-
ing line recently started in Philadelphia
sails under either the English, the Freoch
or the German flag. 1t is not possible
that Americans, who are forward and
enterprising in all other kinds of COM
merce, would be so distanced in the
business of shipping if there were not
powerful reason for it. If it were
game of fair play and no favors, does
any one believe that ninety per cent. OF
our commerce would be carried in for
eigu bottoms? No. The American
shipowner is handicapped with taxes
and tariffs that discriminate against him
10 favor of the foreign ehipowners. We
pay Great Britain alone over 500, 600, 600
ger annum to carry our freight, and
when we go into ecstacies over an ap.
parent showing that the balance of
trade is in our favor to the extent of
sometimes $50. 900, 600 or $50. 600. 900.
we do not take the fact into considera-
tion that that balance is more than wiped
out by the tribute of freight we pay to for
eigu shipping. Under the tariff for rev.
enue of lS46 the American merchant
marine rose to its highest pitch of great.
ness, SURPRISING even the ocean CON-
uuercs Of that old-sime mistress Of the
sea, Great Britain. Under the high tar
IA Of 1854 4-GS our merchant marine has
Swi.dIsd down to nothing.